Motor-vehicle.



No. 646,993. Patented Apr. l0, I900.

I F. K. IRVING.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

(Application filed June 22, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

CONTROLH WITNESSES! |NVENTOR: mwbfima FRANK K. i viNc,

BY 412mm ATTORN EY TNE Nonms PETERS co. FHOT0-LIYHO.. wunmomn, u. c.

No. 646,993. Patented A r. l0 l900.'

F. K. mvma; p MOTOR vsmcuzJ (Application filed June 22, 1899.).

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

INVENTOR'.-

WITNESSES:

' FRANK K. EWING,

ATTORN Y 1: Noam: PETERS coy, PHoTmuTno" WASHINGTON. u. c.

was i STATES v PATENT Fries.

FRANK K. IRVING, OF NEWARK, NElV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ANDREWG. VOGT, OF SAME PLACE.

MOTOR-VEHICLE.

srnciricacrxon forming part of Letters Patent No. 646,993, dated April10, 190i).

Application filed June 22, 1899.

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK K. IRVING, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in, Motor-Vehicles; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to letters and figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention has reference to novel improvements in means foroperatively con necting one or more electric motors with one or more, ofthe wheels of a vehicle-such as a wagon,carriage, or the like and theinvention has for its primary object to provide a mechanical meansadapted to be secured in position upon the framework of the vehicle,said means comprising a spring-actuated and springsupported framework towhich the electric .25 motor or motors are operatively connected and aregeared with one or more of the wheels or axle of the vehicle, the saidsupportingframe being automatically adjustable to any inequalities inthe road-bed over which the 0 motor-vehicle is to be propelled.

A further object of this invention is to provide a very simple drivingmechanism and supporting-framework for the purpose above stated, whichcan be cheaply made and can be 3 5 readily attached to any well-knownconstruction of vehicle now drawn by animals, which permits of the motoror motors to be rigidly attached to the framework and still be free fromthe effects of vibrations and the sudden c and destructive poundings dueto inequalities in the road-bed.

My invention therefore consists in the novel arrangements andcombinations of the various parts and in the details of the constructionthereof, all of which will be hereinafter fully set forth and finallyembodied in the clausesof the claim.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich-- 5a Figure l is a top or plan view of a springactuated frame forsupporting the electric Serial No. 721,416. (No model.)

motor or motors, and which frame can be se cured in position to theframework of any ordinary vehicle. Fig. 2 is a rear view of one of thewell-known forms of vehicles, illus 5'5 trating in connection therewithand in end view the arrangement of a spring-supported frame and a pairof motors rigidly secured in position thereon, allaccording to theprinciples of my presentinvention. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of apair of motors, a controller, and battery, with the electric circuitsfor electrically connecting the motor or motors in circuit with saidcontroller and said battery. Fig. 4is a side view of a portion of aroad-wagon and one of its wheels, with portions'of the spokesthereofbroken away, and

a cross-section of the axle, said view also illustrating in sideelevation the arrangement of the spring-supported frame, one of theelec- 7o trio motors, and a gear or driving mechanism operativelyconnecting the motor with the spokes of one of the wheels of thevehicle. Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section taken on line 5 5 in Fig. 1,illustrating certain portions of the spring-supported frame and its attachment to the axle of the vehicle and to the reaches forming part ofthe framework of the vehicle, in said View, however, the motor havingbeen omitted. Fig. 6 is a vertical crosssection of a gear adapted to besecured in operative position against the sides of the spokes of one ofthe wheels of the vehicle.

Similar letters and figures of reference are employed in all of the saidabove-described views to indicate corresponding parts.

In said drawings, A indicates the vehicle, which may be of anywell-known construction, and (t and co are the rear wheels of the same,said wheels being arranged upon the axle bin the usual and well-knownmanner and'being provided with suitable spokes a Secured, preferably,against the inner sides. of said spokes, by means of fastening clips orclamps a is a gear-wheel O, which consists, essentially, of a part c andan annular flange or shoulder 0, arranged as illustrated more especiallyin Fig. 6, and provided with radially-arranged arms or spokes 0 whichare connected with the ring-shaped part c at the rec center of saidgear-wheel. Said ring-shaped part c has an opening a to enable it to befitted over the hub a" of the wheel of the vehicle, and said clips orclamps (t are arranged around the spokes a and their screw ends a passedthrough suitably-arranged perforations or holes in the said body portione of the gear-Wheel C and then secured in position by means of the nuts(L as clearly indicated in Figs. 2 and 4c. The circumferential edge ofsaid part c of the wheel 0 has a suit able arrangement of gear orsprocket teeth 0 substantially as illustrated in the several figures ofthe drawings.

Secured'to the reaches Z) and the axle Z) of the vehicle is asupporting-frame D. Said frame, as will be seen from Figs. 1, 2, 4, and5, consists, essentially, of a pair of side strips or bars d and a pairof connecting strips or bars (1 and (Z all of which are suitably securedtogether by means of bolts or rivets, and said side bars beingpreferably provided with the upwardly-extending flanges or ribs (Z andsaid bars d and (Z being preferably provided with upwardly-extendingflanges or ribs (1 whereby the whole frame thus formed is considerablystrengthened. Angle-irons (Z may be secured in the several corners wheresaid flanges or ribs of the various bars join together; but such ironsare not absolutely necessary. The said reaches Z1, hereinabovementioned, may also be strengthened by the arrangement of suitableL-shaped bars or plates biwhich are suitably secured in position againstsaid reaches, as will be clearly evident from an inspection of Figs. 1and 2. Secured against the under sides of the said plates b and hence tothe reaches 1), in a position centrally located between the two crosspieces or bars (1 and d of the supporting-frame I), by means of bolts orrivets d, is a suitable plate (1 preferably provided upon its under sidewith a strengthening rib or flange (Z (see Figs. 2 and 5,) and securedinposition upon bars or strips d and 61 by means of bolts or rivets d orin any otherwell-known manner, are a pair of cross-plates d and d. Theselast-mentioned plates and the plate d are provided withcorrespondingly-arranged holes or perforations, in which I have arrangedsuitable rods or bolts 6 and c, said rods or bolts being provided atthebottom with heads e and having arranged upon the upper andscrew-threaded ends a pair of nuts 6 and 6 whereby said rods or boltscan be secured in fixed position to the said cross-plates d and (1. Asclearly illus trated in said Figs. 2 and 5, I have arranged upon saidrods or bolts e and 6, between their heads and the under surface of theplate 01 coiled springs 6 and upon the upper portions of each of saidrods or bolts, between the upper surface of said plate (1 and the nuts 2I have arrangeda second spring 6, the purposes of which springs will beset forth more in detail hereinafter.

As clearly illustrated in the several figures of the drawings, the rearends of the side bars cl of the frame D are provided withsuitablyarranged perforations, in .which I have se- From the above itwill be evident that I have devised a spring-supported frame A, whichcan be readily secured in its proper position on the frame of anordinary vehicle and which is pivotally connected with the axle of thevehicle, said frame being spring-supported and spring-actuated at itsopposite end, so as to compensate for any vibrations due to inequalitiesin the road-bed, to prevent sudden pounding of the motors g and g",secured upon said frame A, or the destruction of any parts of the saidframe. Said motors are operatively arranged in suitable bearings 9suspended from the under side of the frame A, at or near the frontthereof, and upon each motor-shaft g I have secured a toothed pinion gwhich is in alinement with the respective gear-wheel C, secured to thewheels of the vehicle ,and which drive said gears O by means ofsprocket-chains h, arranged over the teeth of the respective pinionsconnected with the motors and those of the said gears G,as clearlyillustrated.

Within the body of the vehicle I have arranged any one of the well-knownforms of batteries t for supplying the electrical current for runningthe motors g and g. Within said body of the vehicle I have also placedthe usual construction of controller t, by means of which the speed ofthe motors can be varied and the vehicle caused 'to be propelled eitherin a forward or backward direction. The said controller iselectricallyconnected with the battery by means of the circuit-wires 1 and .2, andsaid controller is in circuit with the motors g and g by means of anarrangement of circuit-wires 3, at, 5, 6, '7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, andthe two motors are electrically connected by means of the wire 13, allof which is clearly illustrated in said Fig. 3.

The operation of the several parts is practical and very simple, and acheap and efficient mechanism has been produced which can be secured inposition to any well-known construction of vehicle for propelling thesame.

I am f ullyaware that changes maybe made in the several arrangements anddetails of the construction of the various parts described in theaccompanying specification and illustrated in the drawings withoutdeparting from the scope of my present invention, and it will be readilyseen that in place of two motors and two sets of gear mechanism foractuating the wheels of the vehicle I may employ but one motor and oneset of gear- ICC wheels connected therewith. Hence I do not limit myinvention to the exact arrangement and combinations of the various partsas herein set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, nor doI confine myself to the exact details of the construction thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. I11 a vehicle,the combination, with the framework thereof, and one or more of itswheels, of a supporting-frame connected with the framework of thevehicle, a motor or motors 011 said supporting-frame, a gear-wheel 0,consisting, essentially, of a body portion 0, an annular flange orshoulder c thereon, radially-arranged arms or spokes, and a ringshapedpart in the center, adapted to be fitted over the hub of the wheel,gear-teeth on the outer periphery of said wheel 0, clamps a adapted tobe passed around the spokes of the Wheel of the vehicle, havingscrew-threaded bolt portions adapted to be passed through perforationsin. the body portion 0 of said gear (3, and nuts thereon for securingsaid gear against the sides of the spokes of the wheel, and an operativeconnection between said gear and the motor or motors, substantially asand for the purposes set forth.

2. In a vehicle, the combination, with the framework thereof, and one ormore of its wheels, of a spring-supported and spring-actuatedsupporting-frame connected with the framework of the vehicle, a motor ormotors on said supporting-frame, a gear-wheel 0, consisting,essentially, of a body portion 0, an annular flange or shoulder cthereon, radially-arranged arms or spokes, and a ringshaped part in thecenter, adapted to be iitted over the hub of the wheel, gear-teeth onthe outer periphery of said wheel C, clamps adapted to be passed aroundthe spokes of the wheel of the vehicle, having screw-threaded boltportions adapted to be passed through perforations in the bod y portion0 of said gear 0, and nuts thereon for securing said gear against thesides of the spokes of the wheel, and an operative connection betweensaid gear and the motor or motors, substantially as and for the purposesset forth.

3. In a vehicle, the combination, with one or more of its wheels, of agear 0 secured to the spokes of said wheel or wheels, said gear Cconsisting, essentially, of a body portion 0, an annular flange orshoulder c thereon, radially-arranged arms or spokes, and a ringshapedpart in the center, adapted to be fitted over the hub of the Wheel,gear-teeth on the outer periphery of said wheel 0, clamps a adapted tobe passed around the spokes of the wheel of the vehicle, havingscrew-threaded bolt portions adapted to be passed through perforationsinthe body portion 0 of said gear 0, and nuts thereon for securing saidgear against the sides of the spokes of the Wheel, and a motor or motorsoperatively connected with said gear or gears, substantially as and forthe purposes set forth.

4. In a vehicle, the combination, with the framework thereof, and therear axle of said vehicle, of a motor-supporting frame D pivotallysecured to said axle, said frame consisting, essentially, of side barscl, and a pair of connecting strips or bars cl and of at the front endof said frame, a plate (1 secured in position to the reaches of theframework of the vehicle, and a spring-encircled bolt or bolts connectedwith the said plate d and the forward end of said frame D, substantiallyas and for the purposes set forth.

5. In a vehicle, the combination, with the framework thereof, and therear axle of said vehicle, of a motor-supporting frame Dpivotallysecured to said axle, said frame consisting, essentially, ofside bars at, and a pair of connecting strips or bars at and 01 at thefront end of said frame, a plate secured in position to the reaches ofthe framework of the vehicle, a pair of cross-plates 11 and 61 securedto said bars at and d directly above said bar or plate 61 and a pair ofspring-encircled bolts connected with said plates 01 and d and at,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In a vehicle, the combination, with the framework thereof, and therear axle of said vehicle, of a motor-supporting frame D pivotallysecured to said axle, said frame con sisting, essentially, of side bars(1, and a pair of connecting strips or bars d and d at the front end ofsaid frame, a plate 61 secured in position to the reaches of theframework of the vehicle, and a spring-encircled bolt or bolts connectedwith said plate (1 and the forward end of said frame D, a motor ormotors on said supporting-frame, a gear-wheel 0, consisting,essentially, of a body portion a, an annular flange or shoulder cthereon, radially arranged arms or spokes, and a ring-shaped part in thecenter, adapted to be fitted over the hub of the wheel of the vehicle,gear-teeth on the outer periphery of said Wheel 0, clamps a adapted tobe passed around the spokes of the wheel of the vehicle, havingscrew-threaded bolt portions adapted to be passed through perforationsin the body portion 0 of said gear 0, and nuts thereon for securing saidgear against the sides of the spokes of the wheel, and an operativeconnection between said gear and the motor or motors, substantially asand for the purposes set forth.

7. In a vehicle, the combination, with the framework, thereof, and therear axle of said vehicle, of a motor-supporting frame D pivotallysecured to said axle, said frame consisting, essentially, of side barscl, and a pair of connecting strips or bars d and d at the front end ofsaid frame, a plate (1 secured in position to the reaches of theframework of the vehicle, a pair of cross-plates c1 and d secured tosaid bars d and 01 directly above said bar or plate d and a pair ofspring-encircled bolts connected with said plates 61 and 01 and d, amotor or motors on said supporting-frame, a gear-wheel 0, consisting,

essentially, of a body portion 0, an annular against the sides of saidspokes of the Wheel,

flange or shoulder a thereon, radially-arand an operative connectionbetween said ranged arms or spokes, and a ring-shaped gear and the motoror motors, substantially part in the center, adapted to be fitted overas and for the purposes set forth. I5 5 the hub of the Wheel, gear-teethon the outer In testimony that I claim the invention set periphery ofsaid wheel 0, clamps a adapted forth above I have hereunto set my handthis to be passed around the spokes of the Wheel 17th day of June, 1899.

of the vehicle, having screw-threaded bolt FRANK K. IRVING. portionsadapted to be passed through per- Witnesses: 1o forations in the bodyportion 0 of said gear FREDK. O. FRAEN'IZEL,

G, and nuts thereon for securing said gear VVALTER H. TALMAGE.

